John b



(No Model.) Y

J. B. OLBAVELAND.

WIRE STRBTGHER.. No. 448,635. Patented Mer. 24, 1891 me/14160@ @vita/meow j E /3' M, wz. fnd. 0% fm. 737 Mayen@ 'OZM' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN B. CLEAVELAND, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

Wl R-STRVETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,635, dated March 24, 1891. Application filed December 29, 1890. Serial No. 376,020. (No model.)

To all whom t may conceive:

Be it known that I,4 JOHN B. CLEAvELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis,in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvementin YVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved wirestretcher for wire fences.

The object of my improvement is to provide a Windlass which may be easily and cheaply made, and Which Will securely hold the Wire taut, and at the same time be adapted to be readily turned with a Wrench forward or backward to increase or slacken the tension of the wire, as may be desired.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l represents a side elevation, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 a central vertical section.

A is a bracket adapted to rest against and project from the side of a fence-post, and having a pair of opposed arms B B, on which the shaft of the windlass rests.

The windlass consists of a shaft C, having at one end an angular head D, and provided with a pair of flanges E E, whose peripheries are formed of a series of straight faces f f, forming, preferably, an octagonal outline.

Bracket A is provided between the arms B B and opposite each of the flanges E with a vertical bearing-surface F andan inclined bearing-surface G, the two surfaces F and G forming together an inner angle, which corresponds With the angle formed by any two adjoining faces of the windlass-iianges, the arrangement being such` that when the shaft of the windlass rests on the arms B the peripheries of the fianges E E will rest against the bearing-surfacesF and G and fit into the angle formed thereby.

The base of bracket A is provided with an opening I, through which the .fence-Wire J passes.

In operation, the free end of the fence-wire being secured vto the Windlass, and a wrench applied to the angular head D of the Windlass, the Windlass is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, and the Wire is Wound upon the Windlass. As the wire becomes taut the angles of flanges E are drawn closely into engagement with the straight bearing-surfaces F and G by the tension of the Wire and the Windlass is prevented from turning backward. When, however, it is desired to slacken the wire, a moderate force applied to the Windlass by means of the wrench serves to overcome the resistance of the corners of the dan ges on the bearings and the windlass is turned backward or forward, as may be desired.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of a Windlass, consisting of a shaft having a iian ge formed thereon Whose periphery consists of a series of straight surfaces forming equal angles, and a bracket adapted to support said Windlass and having formed thereon vertical and inclined bearingsurfaces, said bearing-surfaces forming to gether an inner angle adapted to receive and fit the angles of the flanges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the above-described Wire-stretcher, consisting of a Windlass which consists of a shaft having a pair of flanges formed thereon, the peripheries of said flanges being provided with a series of straight surfaces which form equal angles, and a bracket consisting of apair of arms'projecting from a common base and` adapted to support said Windlass and having a pair of angular bearings formed thereon and adapted to receive and fitthc angles of the windlassanges, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN B. GLEAVELAND. lVitnesses:

H. P; Hoon, V. M. I-IooD. 

